I've just booked my award tickets to Birmingham. While it wasn't as simple as selecting "Canberra-Birmingham, and back" it wasn't as much hassle as I'd imagined it might be.

Took me about an hour. Had to go RTW because it stops counting each sector once you get to the RTW cost, and if I'd gone there and back I wouldn't have had enough points for the number of flights needed.

First off, my transit time in Hong Kong might be too tight to get a shower in one of the Cathay Pacific lounges. I've got 1 hour and 40 minutes, but that could get eaten up real quick. Then again, there's a lounge at either end of the terminal. Probably not a lot of time to recharge my laptop, neither, but I should be sleeping for a lot of the flight to Frankfurt. Frankfurt has a BA lounge where I should be able to get a shower.

On the way back, I don't like the transit time in Heathrow: 1 hour and 15 minutes for an international flight and a terminal change. Hmmm. I may just take a train down to London and sit in the lounge, skipping the flights to and from Glasgow.

JFK could be a problem. I arrive late at night and I've got twelve hours to kill. The lounge in T9 doesn't open until 0530, so I'll have to spend six hours sitting around. At least my body clock will be telling me it's morning.

On the plus side, my Frequent Flyer Gold kit arrived a little while ago. I'm still 45 points short of Platinum - maybe a status run soon?

Moderator

First off, my transit time in Hong Kong might be too tight to get a shower in one of the Cathay Pacific lounges. I've got 1 hour and 40 minutes, but that could get eaten up real quick. Then again, there's a lounge at either end of the terminal. Probably not a lot of time to recharge my laptop, neither, but I should be sleeping for a lot of the flight to Frankfurt. Frankfurt has a BA lounge where I should be able to get a shower.

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If your arrival is on time into HKG, you should have plenty of time for a shower.

I have not seen any showers in the BA lounge at FRA. Its a small lounge that only caters to BA short-haul flights - don't expect too much from it.

Skyring said:

On the way back, I don't like the transit time in Heathrow: 1 hour and 15 minutes for an international flight and a terminal change. Hmmm. I may just take a train down to London and sit in the lounge, skipping the flights to and from Glasgow.

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Don't just skip the flights. That will invalidate the remainder of the ticket and you will be stuck there. If you decide to take the train instead, then you will need to have the ticket re-issued and there will be a fee (points) for that. But you may also get a refund on the taxes.

But I agree that connection is pretty tight. But if they issue the ticket then it must be legal and hence you should be protected if the inbound is delayed.

Skyring said:

JFK could be a problem. I arrive late at night and I've got twelve hours to kill. The lounge in T9 doesn't open until 0530, so I'll have to spend six hours sitting around. At least my body clock will be telling me it's morning.

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Spring for a cheap hotel room near the airport. Look for things like Hampton Inn, Best Westin etc.

Skyring said:

On the plus side, my Frequent Flyer Gold kit arrived a little while ago. I'm still 45 points short of Platinum - maybe a status run soon?

If your arrival is on time into HKG, you should have plenty of time for a shower.

I have not seen any showers in the BA lounge at FRA. Its a small lounge that only caters to BA short-haul flights - don't expect too much from it.

Don't just skip the flights. That will invalidate the remainder of the ticket and you will be stuck there. If you decide to take the train instead, then you will need to have the ticket re-issued and there will be a fee (points) for that. But you may also get a refund on the taxes.

But I agree that connection is pretty tight. But if they issue the ticket then it must be legal and hence you should be protected if the inbound is delayed.

Spring for a cheap hotel room near the airport. Look for things like Hampton Inn, Best Westin etc.

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Thanks! I'll aim for a shower in Hong Kong then. I'll be in Economy the whole way which will mean delays getting on and off, but if I'm quick about it, I should be good for a short rubadub.

If I miss the plane in Heathrow, they'll still get me home? The whole thing won't collapse like a row of dominos?

New York should be OK now. A BookCrossing mate has stuck his head up and volunteered to show me the early morning sights. I walked around the Latin Quarter in the predawn and felt unafraid, but I'm not sure I could do the same by myself in New York.

If I miss the plane in Heathrow, they'll still get me home? The whole thing won't collapse like a row of dominos?
.

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Indeed they willm if you misconnect, it is their responsibility. T1 domestic to T3 is easy and you should have no problems with it. There are no security checkpoints to go through (since you have arrived domestically), just follow the signs to flight connections and then transfer to T3

A bit OT but FYI we had recent problems with both Ciibank Debit and our 28 degree cards while OS. Firstly, neither of our Citibank ATM Pins would work to get cash on arrival in Milan (LIN) despite me having done a test withdrawal just before we left. Don't know why but it was most annoying to get an error message from the 3 different ATMs…

Welcome to AFF.
I don't know about Qantas sales ex-Singapore, but make sure you sign up to the Red-emails so you're notified if/when the next one is announced.
For the SIN-MEL route, have you considered Emirates?…

I will be arriving at Change from Perth on Scoot at 1:30am, departing on JL at 8:10 the same day in Business. I know I'll have to retrieve my luggage and get to T1.
My plan then is to go to the Premier Check In Lounge in T1, check in my luggage then rest in the lounge until boarding time.
Is this a good plan / doable ? I have dismissed…

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